Romualdez asks senators to 'behave more properly' as things get testy over PI

Jan 26, 2024 11:51 AM

At a glance

Speaker Martin Romualdez has asked senators to "behave more properly" and "exercise parliamentary courtesy" with their public pronouncements about the ongoing People’s Initiative (PI).

House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

Speaker Martin Romualdez has asked senators to "behave more properly" and "exercise parliamentary courtesy" with their public pronouncements about the ongoing People’s Initiative (PI).

In a press briefing Friday, Jan. 26, Romualdez cited the "very, very toxic rhetoric coming out from the Senate".

"We would like to suggest the [Senate] leadership to exercise parliamentary courtesy and that they behave more properly kasi kung ano-ano ang lumalabas diyan (various rumors have been coming out of there)," he said.

"Hindi naman natin pinapatulan. Kasi wala namang basehan (We won't respond to it. Because there is no basis). So we do not dignify statements that are caused to instigate debates, very divisive," noted the House chief, who--his statements notwithstanding--was still visibly irked.

"Yet we respond with a call for unity, sobriety and we want to work together in solidarity kasi (becasue) at the end of the day, whatever...we have, we should set them aside and work together for the betterment of the Filipinos," he added.

The House has been vocal in its support for the PI movement for Charter change (Cha-cha). The Senate, for its part, has accused the House member of direct involvement in the PI, which is a big no-no.

"Yung mga senador, kung ano-ano ang sinasabi, pero wag na lang natin patulan (The senators have been saying a lot of things, but we won't dignify them). We will embrace their Resolution of the Both Houses [No.6]. Once they pass it, we will expeditiously consider it now adopted immediately," Romualdez said, referring to the pro-Cha-cha measure filed by senators last Jan. 15.

"If they want to pursue or if they want to inspire another [PI], we shall support the same. Para hindi masasabi na (So that they won't be able to say)…there are sinister moves or machinations on the part of the House that will be detrimental to the interest of the Senate," he further said.